coconutbun

Since the beginning of the general election, McCain has run a more mean-spirited campaign than Obama. We were seeing nasty attack ads on tv that distorted the truth and really attacked Obama's character, while Obama's ads focused more on McCain's policy. Now, I'm sure I'm a bit biased on that one, but overall I think I'm on point. Now that McCain is down in the polls, the vitriol of his supporters is up, and listening to a clip of a McCain rally sounds disturbingly like an angry mob. When McCain makes a statement about Obama hanging around terrorists and insinuates that we don't know who Obama "really" is, he's answered with boos, middle fingers, shouts of "traitor," "terrorist," and "socialist" from the crowd. Contrast that with Obama's speeches, where he starts his sentences with words like "let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and our respect." Contrast that with Obama's cool demeanor and reasoned approach to politics.

It's the degree to which McCain, a man running for president, for crying out loud, incites group hatred of a prominent black figure that scares me. A lot.

Although Obama is up in the polls right now, I'm more concerned than ever. The emotions of the crowd have been piqued, which is a dangerous situation in our polarized country. If McCain doesn't change the tone of his campaign, I worry there will be riots no matter what the outcome.

I have a soft spot for Tina Fey. She's smart, funny and a female comic in a pretty male-dominated field. And those glasses - whew! So I was excited about her new film 'Baby Mama.' The film stars Fey as Kate, a single woman who hires Angie (Amy Poehler) to carry her child. It promised an interesting storyline, Romany Malco, the super talented guy who plays Conrad on 'Weeds', and, most importantly, Tina Fey. I decided to make it one of the two films per year that I go see in the theater. And although the movie had a few charming moments, some of the jokes were offensive and disappointing.
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You had the strength to wear lipstick, mascara and jewelry to school, despite being assigned to the boy's locker room. That cliché - the world wasn't ready for you - unforgivably, true.

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let me preface this by saying i don't watch republican tv. it's bad for my blood pressure. however, tonight i decided to watch the republican primary debate. with mccain pulling out a win in florida, it seemed like things were getting interesting. and it is - it's fascinating! they're so happy to state how republican they are - pro-life, anti-immigrant, lukewarm towards bush. huckabee praising rush limbaugh - i thought even the wingiest wingnut thought he was off his rocker. even anderson cooper is showing his 'publican cred (scared to even touch the same things reagan has). it's a conservative pissing contest, minus the hobama catfights.

9:06 pm - i take back the catfight comment. mcromney romain are going at it!

that was my favorite sign from the anti-war march yesterday.

i also liked the chant "bush and cheney, what do you say, how many kids have you killed today?"

( i went to the protest... )

According to a poll reported yesterday in the LA Times, an estimated 1.2 million people in Iraq have died since the US invasion began.

The president says we need more time to complete the mission, that we can't let the Iraqi people down at this critical time. The democrats say too many US troops have died and it's time to bring them home. No one is talking about the Iraqi civilians who have died.

I think we should take whatever course of action will limit the number of Iraqi civilian deaths and provide a government that enforces peoples' human rights. It's our obligation, now that we've started this mess. If that means US troops staying in Iraq, then I'd vote for it. Somehow, though, it doesn't seem like our military strategies have had much of a calming effect. Edwards says the civil war in Iraq will not end until we pull out and force the two sides to come to the table. Obama says it's time to pull US forces out and replace them with a UN peacekeeping force. I'm no political science/foreign relations buff, but I don't see how "staying the course" could work.

An outside force invading a country and tearing down a hostile government in order to try to build a new one seems like a terrible idea. When the people of a country want a regime change, then sure, support them. But get your ducks lined up first. Don't just go toppling a government on your own timetable.

OK. Here's the new viagra ad:

From what I read, it's running on all the major networks during the evening news. The interesting thing about the commercial is that it doesn't show a devoted couple -- there are no women at all in the commercial. It's about men bonding over boners.

Now, I've heard many critiques of this ad. Some activists are worried that it references "viva las vegas," alludes to the notion of "what happens in vegas stays in vegas" and promotes party drug use. I'm not sure I'd go that far -- the ad doesn't remind me of a circuit party -- but I am completely floored that the networks roll out the red carpet for the viagra ad, but the trojan ad I referenced in an earlier post is being rejected by national and local stations right and left (well, I'm guessing it's mostly the right doling out the rejection). How can you line these two ads up next to each other and decide that the one with the message "don't be a pig, wear a condom" is detrimental to society while "I'm so happy I have a hard on," with no mention of safety, is responsible?

Just as a refresher, here's the trojan ad:


Anyone who wonders about the power of pharmaceutical companies to influence the media, take note. If trojan users needed prescriptions for their prophylactics, chances are a lot higher you'd see their swine representatives during prime time.

today i got to see some dragon and lion dancing. kick. ass.

*if you caught the poems on my lj last night, i can't take credit for them! a computer-sharing LJ error landed them on my page, but they're all bocaj.

ap photo

Elwood has the dubious distinction of being recently voted the ugliest dog alive. The story is on the wire -- he's the best news of the day.

Sicko:  If you've ever been annoyed about the cost of health insurance, go see this movie. If enough people get behind this film, we might be able to change our health care system. A friend scored me a ticket to the premier (my first red carpet experience). I highly recommend premiers, because not only do you get a free ticket but they also give you all the popcorn and soda you want. I'm a sucker for deals, and this is a great one -- I'm going to have to figure out how to get to more of them. Back to the movie, though. It was engaging and thoughtful, with enough light touches to keep you laughing. A bit long (2 hours), and many portions were oversimplified. But that's a Moore staple, and I'm not mad at him.

Erin McKeown: If you like singer/songwriter/guitarist/piano player/genius types, go see this performer. I got to see her this weekend and she had us singing, humming, whistling, pumping our fists, and yelling about orgasms in the Kennedy center (subtly, sort of). For free. Best metro fare I've ever spent.

watch the commercial here: trojanevolve.com

then go to planned parenthood and tell Fox and CBS to air the ad.

quote of the day from a NYT article on this ad:

“We always find it funny that you can use sex to sell jewelry and cars, but you can’t use sex to sell condoms,” said Carol Carrozza, vice president of marketing for Ansell Healthcare, which makes LifeStyles condoms.

Facebook is currently under pressure from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other Arab governments to close down the first ever Arab GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered) Facebook group. Join to show solidarity and your support for free speech for all: http://wustl.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2373716526&ref=mf.  Invite friends and spread the word.

Props to afterellen.com for posting the video and commentary.

SSRIs don't have anything on this:
http://www.havidol.com/

i've been working hardcore on this birth control campaign:

...and it's finally launched! check it out at NotMyPill.org.

it's great to be working in public health and to have something concrete to show for it. it's good to pull out my html skills, learn video editing and get to design something.

if you're interested in women's health, please forward this video and link far and wide - blogs, digg, friendster, myspace, wherever you go. if enough people sign on we can force the FDA to ban the kind of birth control that doubles the risk of blood clots...because really, who needs a blood clot? there's no reason for these drugs to be out there when safer alternatives are available.

Tonight I was driving a friend to the airport and came across a real-life big green traffic sign on the highway that said (drum roll, please) George Bush Center for Intelligence

Ha!

one week until the marine corps marathon.

600,000 civilians dead

even saddam is not being accused of killing that many innocent people.

Dude writes this column in the Denver Post about trans employment discrimination protections.

I write this response (not published).
Dude writes back. It's a libertarian thing. He plans on clarifying his opinion in an upcoming column, but it is true that he opposes employment nondiscrimination laws for everyone, not just trans folks.